A flurry of retail developments continue in Kalamazoo and Portage, with new facades going up and national companies moving in.

Treystar development company in Portage signed upscale clothiers J. Jill to 3,200 square feet and Jos A. Bank to 3,700 square feet at its Carillon Centre on Westnedge Avenue. Jos A. Bank opens next month, while J. Jill is set to open the first quarter of next year.

That follows longtime tenant Talbots's expansion into the Pier One space -- set to empty in February -- occupying 9,000 square feet, set to open next summer. Talbots Inc., which bought J. Jill last year, will consolidate its Petites store with its main store and add its Woman brand to the mix, said Treystar leasing agent Terry Patterson.

"These players play follow the leader," Patterson said, noting that the former Talbots and Talbots Petites spaces will open up next summer.

"We're getting interest already, and it's that national, upscale interest."
Treystar will complete a facade makeover on Carillon, as its doing on University Commons -- formerly West Towne Mall, purchased last year -- on the corner of Stadium Drive and Drake Road.

The massive improvements come as Treystar signed new tenants Harbor Freight Tools in April, Arby's in July, and Starbucks and Centennial, set to open later this month.

"Still this year we're going to revise our entries off Stadium and Drake," Patterson said. "Ultimately what we want is to redevelop and bring in some big boxes."

Also on Drake, Treystar's Westwood Plaza along West Main will see the razing of the former Centennial and Playtime Billiards structures.

Determined to be the busiest commercial corridor in the county by the Michigan Department of Transportation, lease negotiations are in progress with two or three national users.